LAFC and Seattle Sounders will renew their rivalry Saturday afternoon with several high-profile players set to make their league debuts at BMO Stadium.
The Black and Gold and the Sounders meet once again out west, with both sides vying for the top spot in the Western Conference in 2024. It’s the first game of the new season for both teams, with winger Pedro de la Vega set to make his debut for Seattle while Hugo Lloris and Omar Campos headline the LAFC lineup.
When these two combine, there’s typically plenty of entertainment with the likes of Denis Bouanga and Jordan Morris itching to score bags of goals to bring in the new season in style.
Here’s 90min’s preview of the rematch of the 2023 Western Conference semifinal.
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Country |
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United Kingdom |
Apple TV – MLS Season Pass |
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United States |
Apple TV – MLS Season Pass, FOX |
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Canada |
Apple TV + |
Lloris is set to make his MLS debut for the Black and Gold, while Omar Campos, Eduard Atuesta, Tomas Angel and David Martinez could all feature for Steve Cherundolo’s side as well.
The likes of Maxime Crepeau, John McCarthy, Kellyn Acosta, Diego Palacios all departed the club, leaving a gaping hole in the 2022 MLS Cup champions’ squad. But Atuesta and Campos could just might find their way into the starting XI in the team’s first game of the season.
LAFC predicted lineup vs Seattle Sounders (4-3-3): Lloris; Hollingshead, Murillo, Long, Campos; Tillman, Sanchez, Atuesta; Olivera, Angel, Bouanga.
Sounders legend Nicolas Lodeiro left Lumen Field as a free agent at the end of the previous season, and the 34-year-old went on to join Orlando City to fill the creative void they were missing. However, Seattle already has Albert Rusnak who’s capable of playing in a similar role in the attacking third like Loderio.
It was a quiet transfer window outside of the addition of de la Vega for Seattle, and he fills a huge need for head coach Brian Schmetzer. Seattle have needed a direct winger for some time, and he’s set to wreak havoc up front alongside Morris and Leo Chu.
Seattle Sounders predicted lineup vs LAFC (4-2-3-1): Frei; Roldan; Gomez, Arreaga, Nouhou; Paulo, Atencio; De la Vega, Rusnak, Chu; Morris.
Seattle will be out for revenge after falling short in last year’s postseason run at the hands of LAFC, and Schmetzer’s side are the most complete team in the Western Conference
LAFC are still a top-quality team — and they managed to keep hold of Golden Boot winner Denis Bouanga — but they’re still lacking a bit of depth while the Sounders are one of the deepest teams in MLS. Bouanga will get on the scoresheet wice, but it won’t be enough to fend off an impressive display from the Sounders.
It’ll be a close one out in Los Angeles, but the Sounders will just about steal the victory with an extra-time winner thanks to USMNT figure Jordan Morris.
Prediction: LAFC 2-3 Seattle Sounders
